A59521 DDAI SteeringWheel23 - Flipbook - Page 20
Judge by ability, not disability
DDAI Launch its Bay Watch Campaign
At present, Gardai and Tra昀케c wardens do not have the power to issue 昀椀nes to
drivers who illegally park in accessible parking bays in private carparks like
shopping centres, educational institutions, hospitals and other spaces.
To tackle the issue, the Disabled Drivers Association
of Ireland (DDAI) has launched its Bay Watch
campaign with two objectives in mind. The 昀椀rst is
calling on the Government to change the existing
legislation so that gardai and tra昀케c wardens can
now impose 昀椀nes on those parking illegally in
private accessible bays. The second is to highlight
the ongoing abuse of disabled parking bays in
general and push for greater enforcement of
existing regulations.
A nationally representative survey by Coyne Research,
carried out in tandem with the DDAI’s own member
research, underscored the lack of knowledge about
the existing legislation around private carparks not
only amongst the public but also amongst disabled
drivers themselves.
Richard Ryder, communications and marketing
manager for the Disabled Drivers Association of
Ireland, said. “Our Bay Watch campaign has been
launched to tackle the anomaly in the current
legislation whereby those parking illegally in
accessible bays in private carparks are allowed to
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get away with it. It should not be left solely to the
private car park owners to manage the problem. Our
research has shown that such a move has the backing
of the public who also support the prosecution of
illegal parkers, not just the handing out of 昀椀nes.
We are also urging the local authorities to be more
proactive in enforcing existing regulations and
crucially, verifying parking permits. Almost 70% of our
members said their disabled parking permit had never
been inspected by either tra昀케c wardens, the gardai or
private car park operators and 96% of our members
want more action in tackling disabled parking bay
abuse.” Richard continued.
The Coyne Research revealed that, contrary to the
existing position, 42% of those surveyed believed that
a tra昀케c warden or a garda can issue a parking 昀椀ne to
someone parked in a disabled parking bay in a private
carpark. 45% said they didn’t know.
7 in 10 of those surveyed said that those who
illegally park in disabled parking bays should face
prosecution, not just 昀椀nes.
